First impressions are believed to be the most important; that is why the fashion industry dominates everyday life. Around campus, one can always find students that will leave a lasting impression through their unique choices in clothing. In my search for them, I found none other than senior Miles Murphy. Like a figure straight out of a photo taken from World War II, Murphy’s look can only be described as historical.

“I think there are more things to wear than flip-flops, shorts and muscle shirts,” Murphy said. “I wish fashion would be more formal. I like it when people put thought into what they wear when they’re trying to make an impression [and] present the best side of themselves.”

Inspired by the 1950s, Murphy mostly wears suits or other form-fitting formal wear that adds a bit of the sophistication from the era.

“I got into fashion to be then and again,” he said. Murphy’s clothes are, to an extent, reminiscent of the times when people just dressed nicer.

Freshman Jet O’Brien also draws inspiration from the era.

“What I like are the 1950s pictures where guys are wearing hats and suits and girls are wearing dresses,” O’Brien said. “I think the standard has gone down since then.”

Walking up in a brown suit, two-toned saddle shoes, plaid driver cap and a pair of goggles around his neck, O’Brien can clearly be spotted as an outlier in the sea of name brands and trends. However, the freshman is more than just nice suits, wacky accessories and fancy shoes.

“We [people] all decided we can’t be naked so we might as well dress to impress to make fun of ourselves,” said the 18-year-old, who takes fashion into his own hands. “I used to have a lot of cool clothes in my closet that I would never wear but now I’m not afraid to look stupid.”

O’Brien can be seen in a variety of looks every day and none of them replicate anything that comes from the pages of the latest fashion magazines.

“I’ve got a cowboy suit, a Mexican suit, a spaceman future-type thing … an ‘80s rad boy-type thing — but I mix and match those every day to create an eclectic [look],” he said of his clothes.

O’Brien truly is one who puts thought into what he is wearing. However, for him, it is not about making impressions. Among all the hype of fashion dos and don’ts, people tend to forget that clothes are a representation of individualism.

“I come from Denver, [where] people have no sense of style. They are all the same. People are a little more stylish here but even sitting in Red Square, you don’t see anyone that stands out,” he said. “You’d think that among these intelligent university kids we’d see more improvisation.”

When asked what he wants his clothes to say about him as a person, O’Brien said. "Clothes give you a chance to change and to express how you’ve changed as you evolve as a person. Today I’m a kid from the ‘90s driving around in a Model T talking about stocks and shit. Or I could be a cowboy or a space man.”

O’Brien also wants to see other people step up to the same challenge with their own looks and break out of the norm.

“I think everyone should try to look different from their friends, which is hard to do because friends are a restraining factor to breaking out of the mold,” he said. “[But ultimately] I think people should wear what they feel is right and what feels comfortable, what feels good.”